KAZU - 'Adult Baby'

KAZU - 'Adult Baby'

7/10

Since the mid 90s, Blonde Redhead have been a formidable force in the New York music scene. Blending elements of dream-pop, alt-rock and anything else that takes their fancy, the band have always been seen as a forward-thinking outfit that are forever looking to the future to inspire their next sound. But with the group yet to follow up their 2014 album 'Barragán', frontwoman Kazu Makino took the opportunity to develop a whole new sound of her own as she releases her highly-anticipated debut album 'Adult Baby', a record that pays homage to her own multicultural roots and musical direction.

As you would expect from her, this new release sees even more musical exploration than you can shake a stick at. Moving somewhere between a glossy pop record and an experimental electronic release, 'Adult Baby' sees the frontwoman indulge her sensibilities more than ever. Sung in a mixture of English and Japanese, this new album is all about melding possibilities and giving two or more diverse aesthetics to each and every single. While the result remains largely fascinating and engaging, the record does overdo itself sometimes, creating a weird-for-the-sake-of-weird vibe that still manages to capture the imagination.

This may be her first solo effort in an almost thirty-year career, but you can tell that this has been on her mind for a very long time. 'Adult Baby' sets itself as a true Kazu Makino record, one that reflects her own tastes and personality without conceding too much to public approval. Its uncompromising approach makes for an interesting listen, although not without its harder to enjoy moments.